Nintendo PC

I finally got off my butt and ordered the parts I need to build my Nintendo PC project. The idea is simple; put a computer inside an old NES case. Although I have seen this done before I was never quite happy with the implementations I have seen. In almost every example the person will cut one or more holes in the exterior of the case itself. It would be my preference not to leave any distinguishing marks on the outside of the Nintendo at all!

As technology has advanced and parts have gotten smaller I have felt more and more that my goal was obtainable. As with any project though I have run into a few setbacks. I ordered a Slimline DVD R to fit in the case. The drive had to be SATA as per the requirements of the motherboard. Before I ordered the drive I checked the description to ensure that it would work. When the drive finally arrived I was dissapointed. The site does say the interface is SATA and technically I suppose it is. The drive however will not accept a standard SATA connection, it needs a special cable which of course it does not come with.

I spend the better part of the day going from computer store to computer store with no luck. I must admit a certain level of frustration not in my ability to locate the part I needed but in the caliber of people I was forced to interact with. Frys stands out as the worst. Personally I have never had much luck there anyway. Sure they have "everything" but no one there is helpful or ever seems to give a damn. This trip was no exception. Everyone I spoke to told me in the most condescending way that the part I seek does not even exist. One clerk went so far as to say he knows all the connectors and cables and that the drive could not possibly accept the connection I described. He then went on to tell me that it must be standard SATA and that I don't know how the plug works. Luckily I brought my phone with me so I pulled up 6 or 7 of the very close images I took of the drives and cables. At which point he told me with the some aire of confidence the drive was proprietary and that connector would only be available on the motherboard made specifically for it.

Despite pictures, Google, Amazon, and New Egg, place after place it was the same response: No such connector exists. I even found one place that sold the exact same drives I had purchased online, but again without any cables. If you don't know something then just say you don't know and don't waste my time. Most of the time I just didn't care enough to correct the ignorant statements, but that condescending tone never fails to make me want to punch someone in the mouth.